Large number of districts, communes not meet set criteria: Minister

Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Home Affairs
Le Vinh Tan has pointed out problems in the status of district- and
commune-level administrative units, noting that over 80 percent of these units do
not meet criteria in terms of area and population.

The ministry held a national conference on
August 9 to collect opinions on a draft master plan on re-organising district-
and commune-level administrative units from now to 2021.

Minister Tan said the merger and division of
administrative units in the past have brought about certain positive outcomes,
including helping to boost socio-economic development, urbanisation and the
efficiency of the state apparatus. They have also helped ensure
defence-security, social order and safety, and people’s living standards.

However, the increase in the number of administrative
units at different levels has led to increasingly cumbersome state apparatus and
expanded payroll. The division of administrative units has also caused many
hindrances in making development directions, broke up the development space,
and made local resources and potential scattered.

He noted that 588 of the total 713
district-level units (82.47 percent), and 9,434 of the 11,162 commune-level
units (84.51 percent) do not meet criteria in area and population stipulated in
Resolution 1211/2016/UBTVQH13 of the National Assembly Standing Com

The draft under discussion aims to re-organise
the administrative units that do not meet 50 percent of both the area and
population criteria by 2021. It looks to complete the work for all ineligible
units between 2022 and 2030.

However, the plan do not recommend the reshuffle
of ineligible units with particular characteristics, such as those which stand
isolated from other localities, have history of formation and stable
development since before 1945, or have particular religious, customs, cultural
identities that could negatively impact security, defence and social order if
they are merged with others.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister
Truong Hoa Binh supported the target for 2021 in the draft, adding that it is
also necessary to take into account other specific factors like geographical
conditions, history, culture and customs of local communities before carrying
out re-organisation.

He also stressed that according to the 2013
Constitution and the law on organisation of local governments, public opinions
must be collected before adjusting administrative boundary, and only when over
50 percent of local voters support the reshuffle can the adjustment be
submitted to authorised agencies for consideration.-VNA